Electric sign.



PATENTED JAN. 30, 1906.

C HALLER ELECTRIC SIGN. APPLICATION FILED APR 29 1905 arid Q Z57aea5ea:

CARL HALLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 30, 1906.

Application filed April 29, 1905. Serial No. 257,981.

ect of the invention is to provide a sign which shall be light. and durable and require a minimum amount of material and which may be quickly and accurately constructed wit a minimum amount of care and skill on the part of the constructor. l attain these objects in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a face view of a portion of a com leted sign. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a etter-outline shell. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a letter-outline shell and foundation late, taken in secton onthe" line 3 3, Fig. 1.

ig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to-Fig. 3, but drawn 'to'an enlarged scale to better show 'the construction of the arts. Fi 5 is afra mentary sectional view similar to *ig. .4, wit the exception that a different type of lamp-socket is shown. Fig. 6 is a 'fragmentary sectional View showing the construction of a letter-outline shell having a modified form of marginal beading.

Similar letters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views.

The foundation-plate a constitutes the foundation of the sign and preferably consists of sheet metal, as shown. Said founda tion-plate has a set of a ertures c therein for receiving the base of t 1e lam -bulbs b, said apertures being arranged in t e form of the letters which are to constitute the sign.

The .bulbs b are secured in front of the back plate by means of the lamp-sockets c, which are partly or completely located behind the tion upon the foundation-plate, with only the collar 0 lying in front thereof. This collar will ordinarily be hidden from view by the la1np-bulb itself.

In the preferred construction thelampsockets and the supply-conductors d, which I lead thereto, will be oused by a back late 0 whichwill be secured toplate a at a slig t distance behind the same by means of the framepieces f, as best illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and 5.

The letter-outline shells g, which embody the main features of novelty in this n ention, are in themselves open back and front-that is to say, they consist merely of walls forming the contour of the letters and projecting forward from the foundation-plate 0. These walls are preferably formed of single strips of metal, the width of the stri" corresponding to the height of the shell and the length of the stri corresponding to the total perimeter of the etter. in the case of very large sign-letters it may be necessary to solder or otherwise secure together different pieces of metal;

' but even in such case the entire letteiyoutline shell will virtually constitute a single piece. As a result of" this construction five important results are obtained: First, there is no, waste of material by reason of cutting the strip into pieces to be subsequently fastened to ether second, there is no waste of time for soldering, riveting, or otherwise fastening such different pieces together; third, there are no j oints at the corners of the letter where leaks may occur; fourth, no material is wasted to form either a top or bottom to the letter, and, fifth, the sign is light in weight.

At. the back of the letters are formed flanges it, whereby the letters may be soldered or riveted to the foundation-plate (1.

These flanges may be turned outward, as. shownun Figs. II. to 5, inclusive, or may beturned inward, as illustrated in Fig. 6; The attachment of the letter to the foundationlate makes the back of the letter rigid, and

it is desirable. to'stiffen the front of the letter This beading may be curved m n and the letters of the sign will thus exhibit a clear and sharp outline.

By making the inner surface of the lettershel Y and inclosed area of the. foundation- P 5 plate white or of a light color the letters of the sign will, when the lamps are lighted, stand out very clearly; even though only a com aratively small number of lamps are emp oyed.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by LettersPatent,-is--- 1. An electric sign comprising lamp-sockzets, a plate whereto they are attached, said plate bein apertured at intervals and said sockets su stantially filling said apertures; and a sign-letter open back and front and secured to the front of said plate and laterally inclosing said sockets, said letter consisting of a strip ofsheet metal continuous from top to bottom and running peripherally of the letter-outline.

2. An electric sign comprising a plate; a letter-outline shell consisting of a continuous stri of metal running along and forming the out ine of the letter, the strip being secured at the rear edge to the front of said plate, and said letter-outline being open back and front; and lamp-sockets secured to said plate within the boundary of the letter-outline substan tially as described.

3. An electric sign comprising a foundation-plate, electric-lamp bulbs secured thereto in front thereof, and a letter-outline shell pen back and front and secured to said undation-plate for laterally inclosing said i la. rp-bulbs, said bulbs being thereby adapted 'luminate the inner surfaces of said shells an 3.10 portion of the back plate as is inclosed 'thin the same, and the letter-outline shell consistin of a strip of metal continuous from top, r 'ottom and running peripherally around t elletter-outline.

" 4. In combination, sockets for electriclamp bulbs; a plate whereto said sockets are aflixed, said plate being apertured at the point of attachment of the sockets and being otherwise imperforate and the sockets being approximately coextensive with the apertures in said plate and the major portion of the socket lying behind said plate; and a sign-letter open back and front and secured to the front of said plate, said sign-letter consisting of a strip of sheet metal continuous from top to bottom and running peripherally around the letter-outline, the said sockets being located within said letter-outline.

5. In an electric sign the combination of a foundation-plate, letter outline shells consisting of strips of sheet metal bent to letteroutline the rear edge of each strip being bent to form a flange for attachment to said foundation-plate and the front edge of the strip being beaded over for stiffness; and lampsockets secured to said foundation plate within the letter-shells, the major portion of said sockets lying behind said plate.

6. In an electric sign the combination of a foundation-plate, letter-outline shells consisting of strips of sheet metal bent to letteroutline, the rear edge of each strip being bent to form a flange for attachment to said founz eing beaded over for stiffness lamp-sockets secured to said foundation-plate within the letter-shells, the major portion of said sockets lying behind said plate; and a back plate fastened a slight distance behind said foundation-plate for housing said lamp-sockets.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

CARL HALLER.

Witnesses HOWARD M. Cox, CAROLYN ROFTERY.

, ationlate, and the front edge of the stri 

